Tuesday Shoesday – What shoes to wear with the cropped denim trend

Cropped jeans are everywhere right now. And it’s no surprise really. They’re ideal for those Spring days when it’s too chilly for a skirt or shorts but sunny enough that you want to show some skin. So are just perfect at this time of year. But how on earth do you wear this kind of length? I remember wearing a lot of cropped trousers around the turn of the century (that sounds soooo historical – but I mean the 2000s not the 1900s!) and I’m not sure I got away with it back then.

Okay, ‘youngsters’ tend to get away with fashion trends more and back in the 00s I was definitely a ‘youth’. Even so, it wasn’t the best look on 5ft 2inch me. So I’m not sure that I’m any more likely to look good in the cropped denim trend now, after adding 16 years and no additional height. Which is why I wanted to take a look at footwear that would suit the trend and perhaps find a way of wearing a cropped length that doesn’t make me look too stumpy or ‘try-hard’. Here’s what I came up with:

Ankle boots are definitely an important part of getting this look just right. They are the footwear of choice on colder days when you don’t want to match the stonewashed blue shade of your jeans to your chilly blue toes. You can keep warm with some cosy socks underneath those funky boot and, if they’re high enough, even tuck the cropped trousers into the top of the boots to lock the warmth in. Okay, that probably defeats the idea of wearing cropped jeans, but at least you’ve got that option when the wind starts whipping around your ankles. Boots keep the look practical with a sensible heel height and you can stride through puddles with a ‘lets get on with it’ sense of abandon. Bonus fashion points are earned by flashing a slither of skin between the top of the boot and the bottom of the cropped denim. This shows that you actually ARE doing the cropped trend and that the-cold-never-bothered-you-anyway.

Court shoes are a guaranteed way to amp up the sexiness of a pair of jeans. We’ve known that skinny jeans and heels are a great look for smart/casual nights out for years and this is an extension of that subtly sexy look. In fact, the cropped denim accentuates a slinky night-time look by offering a cheeky flash of skin. The thing that I worry about with cropped trousers is looking shorter than I already am, so the added heel height of a pair of court shoes goes a long way to combat this fear.

Something in-between like these wedge sandals or below-the-ankle boots are a great solution for days when you just don’t know what to wear. A mid-heel will always work; adding height where you need it and are comfortable enough to wear all day. Sandals scream ‘Summer’ and ensure that you can continue wearing your beloved cropped jeans even on the hottest of days. A below-the-ankle boot gives more daytime coverage than a court shoe but still looks a little slinky – great for straight-after-work dates.

What do you think of the cropped denim trend for S/S16? Will you be pulling on a pair of short trousers this summer? Or will you simply be rolling up your existing pair of skinny jeans and show a bit of ankle? And if so, what will you be wearing on your feet? For the ultimate in stroll-down-the-promenade comfort, I think I’ll be going for a pair of canvas pumps or loafers. Let me know how you would wear this look by leaving me a comment below or tweeting me @Cassiefairy.

Cassie is a freelance writer with a Masters degree in lifestyle
promotion studies. She loves to 'get the look for less' so regularly shares thrifty fashion posts, DIY interior design ideas and low-cost recipes on her blog.

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